Press Release

The United Nations in Bosnia and Herzegovina marks the International Day of Peace 2025

21 September 2025

The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the International Day of Peace in 1981, and in 2001 unanimously voted to designate this Day as a day of non-violence and ceasefire.

This year’s United Nations theme Act Now for a Peaceful World underlines that peace is not only a vision or a future goal, but a daily responsibility shared by decision-makers, social and political actors, as well as every individual and community. Acting for peace means taking concrete steps: initiating conversations about tolerance, volunteering in local communities, respecting diversity, reporting violence online and offline, verifying facts before sharing information, or supporting initiatives that promote sustainability and human rights.

The United Nations works across all these areas globally – through the Peacebuilding Commission, which marks its 20th anniversary in 2025 and addresses root causes of conflict such as poverty and injustice; through the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which strengthen equality and prosperity; through UN peacekeeping missions, serving in the world’s most difficult contexts; and through the recently adopted Pact for the Future, designed to respond to emerging global challenges – including climate change, technology, and the active participation of future generations.

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the United Nations, through the Secretary-General’s Peacebuilding Fund (PBF), has for years supported initiatives that connect institutions, civil society, academia, and local communities to build long-term peace, strengthen trust, and foster social cohesion. With PBF support, programmes are being implemented that focus on women and youth, dialogue, and innovative approaches to peace and trust building.

To mark the International Day of Peace, the UN in BiH is launching the “12 Days of Peace” campaign, culminating on the International Day of Non-Violence - 2 October. Introduced in 2019, the campaign brings together a wide network of national and international partners. Over 12 days, educational programmes, youth gatherings, cultural events, and community dialogues will be held across the country, supported by PBF and organized in partnership with institutions, civil society, youth networks such as the UN Youth Advisory Board (YAB), as well as through the EU-funded programme Možemo bolje (We Can Do Better), jointly implemented by the EU, UN, OSCE, and Council of Europe.

Special emphasis is placed on women’s leadership and youth engagement, including the international Summer School “Women, Peace and Security”, which will take place from 22 to 26 September, gathering 50 young participants from 11 countries. Over five days, students and young professionals will explore the role of women in peacebuilding and security processes through lectures, workshops, field visits, and discussions with 19 expert lectures from BiH and beyond. The Summer School is organized in partnership with the Faculty of Criminal Justice and Security Studies of the University of Sarajevo and the PBF initiative Women Lead the Way Towards Peace and Security in BiH (WPS), jointly implemented by UN Women, UNFPA, and IOM, in cooperation with the Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees of BiH and the regional PBF initiative Youth 4 Inclusion, Equality and Trust (Y4IET).

This year’s observance carries special significance as Bosnia and Herzegovina marks 30 years of peace. The 12 Days of Peace campaign is a reminder that peace is not only a legacy to be safeguarded but also a responsibility we all share – today and for the generations to come.